Sitting question

kelly321

DD loves to sit, although she can't do it on her own yet, so one of us helps her balance. In the last few weeks, though, I've been told from about 5 separate people that they shouldn't sit until they can get in a sitting position by themselves because it's bad for their spine. Have any of you ever heard this? Is it just a German thing?? I'm starting to get worried because almost every person who has heard about her wanting to sit has said the same thing.

JUSTBEYOURSELF

I have never heard of that before. my little one sits all the time, some assisted some times not. 

Did they say why they thought this would hurt the spine?  

lizardknitter

DD sits unassisted for up to 20 minutes.  But can't get there by herself.  And the pediatrician doesn't seem concerned.  Not sure that helps you, but I'd say if it was uncomfortable, she wouldn't do it. HTH.

flutepharm87

The boys see an early interventionist since we're at risk for developmental delays (due to them coming 6 weeks early) and we've been encouraged to allow them to sit assisted because it builds trunk strength. Even Ian's physical therapist sits him up with assistance to help him build strength in his neck. So I would say you're fine to allow your DD to sit with your assistance even if she can't do it on her own yet. If it causes spinal issues, I doubt the boys' healthcare team would do it for him since he's in the same boat. HTH!

kelly321

flutepharm87:

The boys see an early interventionist since we're at risk for developmental delays (due to them coming 6 weeks early) and we've been encouraged to allow them to sit assisted because it builds trunk strength. Even Ian's physical therapist sits him up with assistance to help him build strength in his neck. So I would say you're fine to allow your DD to sit with your assistance even if she can't do it on her own yet. If it causes spinal issues, I doubt the boys' healthcare team would do it for him since he's in the same boat. HTH!

Yes, thank you. That was very helpful. I'm just going to try to ignore all the comments from the Germans around me. They've all been very nice about it, like just trying to inform me in case I wasn't aware that I might be causing my child to have permanent damage to her spine, but still, it was starting to annoy me and I needed reassurance.

flutepharm87

You're welcome! Glad I could help

tokenhoser

Has anyone told you it will hurt her uterus?

That's my favorite bit of advice I've seen on these boards.

Owen sits assisted all the time. He can't quite do it on his own yet, but he's getting closer all the time. And we were Bumbo people, before he got so able to throw himself out of it.

CanuckFan03

Our doctor saw LO sitting assisted last week and said it was great.  My LO is usually happier sitting these days.  

kelly321

tokenhoser:

Has anyone told you it will hurt her uterus?

That's my favorite bit of advice I've seen on these boards.

Owen sits assisted all the time. He can't quite do it on his own yet, but he's getting closer all the time. And we were Bumbo people, before he got so able to throw himself out of it.

Really? You've seen that here? Part of what surprised me about hearing it from so many Germans was that I had never even run across it on TB, and usually here you at least hear about the weird ideas about what will hurt babies and what won't. 

But seriously, her uterus? How do they figure that's happening? At least the Germans are making a semi-logical argument about her back muscles and spine - both of which I could imagine being affected by her sitting hunched over assisted.

heikem87

Hm I?ve never heard of that before either. To me it just looks kind of strange and painful when she is sitting like this but as long as she is fine with it I am not worried.

Beabs

If sitting assisted was bad for a baby's spine, I imagine the Bumbo people would be out of business by now.

kelly321

Beabs:

If sitting assisted was bad for a baby's spine, I imagine the Bumbo people would be out of business by now.

Eh. You can't really go by that logic, otherwise you wouldn't be able to buy bumpers for cribs anymore, either, but you can. But I think the fact that no doctors have come forth saying that Bumbos are bad is at least an indication that they don't see a problem with it.